Good luck NY bowhunters - 2016

[glenbo]

Out Saturday morning for a few hours in an archery only area. Very quiet,no sightings

[2nocks]

Saw a 6 point chasing a doe Saturday. no shots.

[Mint]

Saw some yearling does and a six point with his nose to the ground that was limping along on Saturday evening. The acorn crop was huge on Long Island this year so I'm not sure how the late season will be. Going to move closer to some bedding areas and leave the funnels.

[Mint]

Went out Saturday evening and the wind was stronger than I like. Just as it was getting dark I heard a slight scraping sound and turned my head and a foot away from me a great horned owl had just landed on a branch of the tree I was in. We made eye contact and then he was off. It was great.

After I lowered my bow and was getting ready to come down a six pointer walked under my tree and got my scent.

[Shinnecockfly]

Sounds like your on em pretty good Jeff! Been hunting on my 2 days off some Suffolk archery some Dec, had a close encounter last week on the ground blew it. Sunday hunt got ruined by small game and dirt bikes. Out today missed some squirrels and hoping for a deer to walk by the trail on the edge of this field I'm sitting off of.

At least I have this beautiful new to me northern mist classic to keep me company

[Mint]

Good luck with the Northern Mist Michael.

Been a tough season for me, shot high on a nice buck, and shot under on another buck at 25 yards. I'm hunting a thick area and trying to time the shots as they go from cover to cover hasn't worked for me.
Plan to just hold at full draw and have them walk into an opening and then release.

First time I've hunted such a thick spot with laurels.

[Shinnecockfly]

Had a doe run up a small trail right before the end of shooting light, she was pushed by a couple of hikers. Bleeted got her to stop, was waiting for her to step into shooting lane and stupidly thought grunting with my tube would stop her from bolting as she looked as if her curiosity was wearing off. She busted and i just laughed. Closet I got to realsing an arrow this year. Always learn a lesson when I encounter deer.

Been trying to hunt edges and transitions like you we mentioning. That spot was a high point where oaks meets somewhat open pine sandy area. Still very tough though

[nashoba]

Tuesday was forecast to be the best day of the week so I decided to go sit in one of my stands on a piece of property that I've been hunting for close to twenty years. It was going to be a bitter sweat day as it might be the last time on the property because the land owner passed away in the spring of 2015 and his wife is having a hard time continuing to live there.
I wasn't in my stand for very long when I saw a couple of deer running south along the bottom of the ridge.For no reason that I could see they reversed direction and ran by me at forty yards I was somewhat relieved that they were that far away as I wasn't really looking to shoot a deer I just wanted to relax. As luck would have it the big doe decided to walk to my stand and stand broad side to me , I'm up about fifteen in a pine tree and completely concealed. After a short time of hemming and hawing about whether or not to take the shot  I realized that shot opportunities like this don't happen all the time. After taking the shot and recovering her I discovered that she was the darkest colored deer that I've ever seen, she also had a small patch of white on the side of her nose. She was so neat looking that I decided to have her mounted the taxidermist said he thought that she might have a slight case of melanism with a little bit of pie bald on her nose. So my quiet day in the woods is now costing me a taxidermy bill. I'll ad a picture later.

[drewsbow]

congrats Alex , well done

[nashoba]

[Kopper1013]

Alright Alex way to go! Congrats...story??

[Kopper1013]

Whoops sorry saw pic before story congrats again

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats Alex. I saw a doe and fawn being followed by a very large fork horn last Saturday morning. It was 10 am and I was shaking pretty good. Ultimately I believe that was the reason the buck busted me. That and the sun was on me, I probably stood out pretty good

[glenbo]

Congrats on the fine doe Alex

[Shinnecockfly]

Got out of work early today and had about 2 hours to hunt so I went to a spot I hunt frequently. Was very windy and would have the perfect wind for trying to do some stalking in a big field with tall tall grass.

Made it about 30 yards into the field when a doe comes running at me. I get ready standing there with 2-3' grass around me. Was lining up the shot as she walked towards me when I see another doe running even closer. I stop wait and this second deer was broadside about to give me a great shot if she stepped a couple feet forward. Sun was in my eyes and would have had to shoot between two little saplings. In the end I waited to long the first doe felt uneasy looking at this thing standing there and they turned and ran. It was at that moment I saw why they came towards me in the first place a nice 2-3 year old 6 point popped through the grass and ran after the does.

Ended up walking the span of the property jumping some more deer bedded in some thick vegetation never getting a shot. Walking back the wind switches allowing me to stalk through the field again learning the various paths measndering through the grass. As I am walking towards the wood line I decide to stand and enjoy the sunset. All of a sudden I see a tiny tiny yearling walked by right towards me. I quickly crouch and get ready. He/she came about 5-7 yards away quartering towards me when I stand to shoot as he turns away some. Again I hesitate for whatever reason and of course the little yearling decides it was standing there long enough. I try to stop it with a bleet but no luck.

Both shots were less than 10 yards. Was the most exciting yet disappointing hunts I've had. Was hunting with my new to me northern mist classic and safari tuff quiver. Next time I won't hesitate.
Took this picture and a minute later the yearling came walking from the left of the field.
   

[nashoba]

Thanks guys for allowing me to share my season with you,its been by far my most successful year in the 35 years that I've been hunting. I wish you all the best in this up coming holiday season.
Shinnecockfly it sounds like you had a great time I give you a lot of credit for being out there on such a crappy day. I also see why you might have had a problem getting a shot off your arrow is on the wrong side of the bow lol.

[longrifle]

Wow Alex what a year, my goal every year is to shoot 3 deer with a bow, never done it in 33 years of bowhunting. You da man!

[Sockrsblur]

Awesome Alex! Congratulations on a great year!!! Well done sir  

[nashoba]

Thanks I was going to retire that bow and build another one around the same weight but I've decided against that it just might be my good luck charm.

[wetfeathers]

Well done Alex.